The pontiff confirmed his May 8-15 visit to Jordan and the Holy Land during the end of his customary Sunday Angelus prayer through a live TV broadcast from the Vatican on Sunday.

. . . The visit to Jordan will be His Holiness' 12th international visit and the first to an Arab country since he became Pope in April 2005.

. . . Bishop Selim Sayegh, the Latin Patriarchal Vicar for Jordan, noted that the pilgrimage to Jordan is an assent to the invitation extended by His Majesty King Abdullah. He pointed out Jordan's biblical significance as a "blessed and holy land".

"The invitation from His Majesty was delivered personally to Pope Benedict XVI by Her Majesty Queen Rania during her private audience with His Holiness in 2007," Jordan Times

The spokesman noted that King Abdallah II will welcome the Pontiff at the airport where he is scheduled to arrive at 2:30 p.m.. And in a particularly unusual gesture, he and Queen Rania will again accompany the Holy Father to the airport when he leaves on Monday.

The spokesman noted that King Abdallah II will welcome the Pontiff at the airport where he is scheduled to arrive at 2:30 p.m.. And in a particularly unusual gesture, he and Queen Rania will again accompany the Holy Father to the airport when he leaves on Monday.

AMMAN (AFP) - Jordan's Queen Rania "twittered" on the social online network about Pope Benedict XVI's first ever visit to an Arab country on Friday, as the pontiff kicked off a regional tour... - Article